millsy
4x4 Earth Contributer
Has anyone 'done the deed' and set up a solar array?
I am building what was supposed to be a little wood shed in the back yard. Then I thought I could add to it sideways and build a boat shed onto the wood shed. Today I thought why not add a frame angled towards the Sun and get in on the $8000 subsidy before it gets reduced in a few weeks time.
I am wondering if the fact that the 'erection' is about 12 to 15m away from the switch/fuse box in the house is going to be a problem as far as losing energy in the connecting wire.
Also, has anyone else built a free standing support in their yard, rather than just plop it on the roof. I have a big gum tree that shades our roof and I don't think it would be possible to chop it down. The shed is on the north side of the tree so it solves that problem!
And is the promise of getting, I think, 44cents for every killowatt hour you put back into the grid actually happening? I think I heard some one say that their energy company is not honouring that deal!
Also, has anyone worked out which particular type of solar cells are the best to install in terms off cost, efficiency, life-span, maintenance, . . . ? I think he talked about thin film cells and crystalline cells.
Another query would be is it actually worth angling the panels, and has anyone done this? I guess you would go for the half-way angle between the lowest winter and highest summer angles? The guy that gave me the quote this morning mentioned that some cells cope better with heat than others. So I am thinking that by raising them up off the roof, because of the angled frame, it would allow a lot of air to circulate around them and so help them to keep a little cooler. Plus the rain water, bird droppings and hail stones might be deflected a little.
And what about the quote he gave me - $4,800 including the $400 new meter that would be needed. How does that compare with what others have paid. And I suppose there would be an issue of trusting a new company that might have set up recently who might offer a deal a lot less than the one I got form a well established firm. Is there any great risk, or are these things so simple to install its not really worth paying $2000 more? ( I saw an add on the tele for a 1KW set up for just $2500! )
Would really appreciate anything anyone can offer. Must admit have not done a lot of Googling as yet.
Thanks, Millsy.
I am building what was supposed to be a little wood shed in the back yard. Then I thought I could add to it sideways and build a boat shed onto the wood shed. Today I thought why not add a frame angled towards the Sun and get in on the $8000 subsidy before it gets reduced in a few weeks time.
I am wondering if the fact that the 'erection' is about 12 to 15m away from the switch/fuse box in the house is going to be a problem as far as losing energy in the connecting wire.
Also, has anyone else built a free standing support in their yard, rather than just plop it on the roof. I have a big gum tree that shades our roof and I don't think it would be possible to chop it down. The shed is on the north side of the tree so it solves that problem!
And is the promise of getting, I think, 44cents for every killowatt hour you put back into the grid actually happening? I think I heard some one say that their energy company is not honouring that deal!
Also, has anyone worked out which particular type of solar cells are the best to install in terms off cost, efficiency, life-span, maintenance, . . . ? I think he talked about thin film cells and crystalline cells.
Another query would be is it actually worth angling the panels, and has anyone done this? I guess you would go for the half-way angle between the lowest winter and highest summer angles? The guy that gave me the quote this morning mentioned that some cells cope better with heat than others. So I am thinking that by raising them up off the roof, because of the angled frame, it would allow a lot of air to circulate around them and so help them to keep a little cooler. Plus the rain water, bird droppings and hail stones might be deflected a little.
And what about the quote he gave me - $4,800 including the $400 new meter that would be needed. How does that compare with what others have paid. And I suppose there would be an issue of trusting a new company that might have set up recently who might offer a deal a lot less than the one I got form a well established firm. Is there any great risk, or are these things so simple to install its not really worth paying $2000 more? ( I saw an add on the tele for a 1KW set up for just $2500! )
Would really appreciate anything anyone can offer. Must admit have not done a lot of Googling as yet.
Thanks, Millsy.
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